The number of Kentuckians who plan to retire from state and local government this month is up nearly 38 percent from September of last year. Some state legislators and advocates for public workers fear many of them made their decisions prematurely.

Data released Thursday by the Kentucky Retirement Systems Board of Trustees shows that about 750 public employees will retire this month. The average number of September retirements over the past four years was around 550.

In many cases, the exodus has been spurred by recommended changes to the state’s pension plans. State Representative Wilson Stone of Scottsville calls the situation unfortunate.

"This changes their life course when we didn't intend to do that and shouldn't have," Stone told WKU Public Radio. "It also takes people from paying into the retirement system into being part of the retirement system on the other end, so it hurts what we're trying to do."

Wilson is also concerned the retirements will leave local and state agencies without more experienced, veteran employees.

Jim Carroll, president of the Kentucky Government Retirees' group, says for those who have not yet earned their full benefits, once they make a decision to retire, there's no going back.

"It would be unwise to make an irrevocable decision unless you are certain it makes sense from a financial standpoint. I don't know how you can make a decision from a financial standpoint until you have some numbers to compare it to," Carroll said. "There are no changes in benefits today, there won't be tomorrow, so for those who haven't reached full retirement, I personally think it's unwise to make that decision."

Consultants have suggested raising the retirement age, moving from a defined benefit to a 401-K style plan, and reversing cost-of-living adjustments for some current retirees.

At a town hall on pensions in Bowling Green this week, some lawmakers said many of the recommended changes will not clear the General Assembly, especially for those already in the system.

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Some Kentucky lawmakers say drastic recommendations issued to pay down the state’s pension debt have no legislative support.

Legislators from south central Kentucky addressed a packed room last night of public workers and retirees in Bowling Green concerned about how pension reforms will change their benefits. Among them was Terry Eidson who retired from state government in 2006.

"Employees and retirees are feeling a little devalued and demeaned in all this, and it just doesn't sit well," Eidson told WKU Public Radio.

Public employees in the Bowling Green region worried about their retirement benefits have a chance to hear from state lawmakers in a town hall.

Legislators from south central Kentucky will speak in Bowling Green Wednesday evening at a public meeting hosted by the Fraternal Order of Police.

Governor Matt Bevin has promised to call a special legislative session this fall to rein in the state's pension debt. Consultants have recommended pay cuts for some retired workers while freezing the benefits of most other public employees.

Daviess County Fiscal Court has unanimously passed a resolution that supports separating the County Employees Retirement System, or CERS, from the Kentucky Retirement System. A vote at Thursday night's fiscal court meeting in Owensboro.

There are 250 Daviess County employees enrolled in the County plan. The resolution doesn't result in any change in law, but calls on the state legislature to break CERS away from KRS.

Bevin displayed a one-sentence email — with a curse word redacted — sent from teacher Corinne Ellis to kick off an hour-long live video session in which he selected questions from state workers about the state’s pension crisis and potential changes.

“These are the kind of things that are not helpful to this discourse,” Bevin said of Ellis’ email in the video, which as of Tuesday afternoon has been viewed more than 126,000 times.

A consulting firm hired by the state has recommended weakening pension benefits for current and retired state workers as a way to steer Kentucky’s retirement systems away from insolvency.

The proposed changes suggested by PFM Consulting Group include shifting future state employees from defined benefit retirement plans to 401(k)-style plans and raising the retirement age to 65 for most state workers.The firm also said the state should get rid of cost-of-living raises given to state pensioners over the last 20 years and no longer allow employees to use accrued sick days and comp-time to enhance their pension benefits.